The Day I Couldn’t Breathe A Reading A–Z Level N Leveled Book Word Count: 656 LEVELED BOOK • N The Day I Couldn’t Breathe Written by Ursula Feversham Illustrated by Rebecca Stuhff Visit www.readinga-z.com for thousands of books and materials www.readinga-z.com The Day I Couldn’t Breathe Written by Ursula Feversham Illustrated by Rebecca Stuhff www.readinga-z.com Table of Contents Running the Mile The Attack Nurse Marge Riding in the Ambulance 11 At the Hospital 13 Glossary 16 The Day I Couldn’t Breathe • Level N Running the Mile Table of Contents Running the Mile The Attack Nurse Marge Riding in the Ambulance 11 At the Hospital 13 Glossary 16 The Day I Couldn’t Breathe • Level N It was a warm day, and the class was outside for the yearly fitness tests It was time to run the mile This year, I was going to be first I wanted that big blue ribbon and a letter from the president We all stood at the starting line, stretching and getting ready “On your mark! Get set!” Mr Markel, the gym teacher, called We all leaned forward, ready to take off Mr Markel blew the whistle I flew off the line My legs felt strong and quick, and my lungs were full After the first lap, I was in the lead and felt good I really had a chance this year—I could win it all! The Day I Couldn’t Breathe • Level N The Attack “On your mark! Get set!” Mr Markel, the gym teacher, called We all leaned forward, ready to take off Mr Markel blew the whistle I flew off the line My legs felt strong and quick, and my lungs were full After the first lap, I was in the lead and felt good I really had a chance this year—I could win it all! The Day I Couldn’t Breathe • Level N Halfway through the second lap, I tried to take a deep breath—and it hurt No, not now! I thought I can’t have an asthma attack today! I tried to take another breath It felt as if something huge was sitting on my chest I stopped running and slowly crossed the field Mr Markel ran to meet me I was starting to wheeze “You’re going to be okay Just stay calm, and we’ll get you to the nurse’s office,” Mr Markel said He asked my friend Lauren to walk with me The Day I Couldn’t Breathe • Level N Mr Markel ran to meet me I was starting to wheeze Nurse Marge “You’re going to be okay Just stay calm, and we’ll get you to the nurse’s office,” Mr Markel said He asked my friend Lauren to walk with me It felt like a long walk I was wheezing and gasping with every step Knowing that the nurse had my inhaler kept me moving If I could just make it there, I’d be fine The Day I Couldn’t Breathe • Level N The nurse, Mrs Marge, jumped up from her desk She opened a wide drawer, pulled out an inhaler, read my name, and handed it to me I shook it, squeezed, and inhaled Very little medicine came out—not enough I tried it again My inhaler was empty! The Day I Couldn’t Breathe • Level N The nurse, Mrs Marge, jumped up from her desk She opened a wide drawer, pulled out an inhaler, read my name, and handed it to me I panicked Panic was the worst thing I could My breathing became quicker, but I wasn’t getting any more air The room began to spin I shook it, squeezed, and inhaled Very little medicine came out—not enough I tried it again My inhaler was empty! The Day I Couldn’t Breathe • Level N Mrs Marge called an ambulance Then she joined Lauren in trying to calm me down It helped—a little 10 Riding in the Ambulance The paramedics showed up and helped me to the ambulance They had me put a plastic mask over my mouth and told me to breathe deeply They said it was medicine, but it tasted bad It helped, though The paramedics kept checking me over The Day I Couldn’t Breathe • Level N 11 The ambulance sped through traffic with the siren blaring The ride would have been fun if I had felt better When we reached the hospital, the paramedics took the mask away Riding in the Ambulance The paramedics showed up and helped me to the ambulance They had me put a plastic mask over my mouth and told me to breathe deeply They said it was medicine, but it tasted bad It helped, though The paramedics kept checking me over The Day I Couldn’t Breathe • Level N “I’m feeling okay now,” I said “Can I go back to school?” I still wanted to finish my mile “Not yet You need to see a doctor first,” the paramedic said He helped me out of the ambulance and took me into the hospital 11 12 At the Hospital He had me sit on a bed in a row of beds Soon a doctor showed up She had me breathe through a tube while she examined me The tube was attached to a boxy machine that sounded as though it was breathing The Day I Couldn’t Breathe • Level N 13 Dad showed up a few minutes later He looked worried, but he relaxed when I waved and smiled at him “Looks like you had a pretty bad asthma attack,” the doctor said to me She took the tube away “There’s a lot of pollen in the air Pollen must be one of your triggers Next time, tell your teacher you need to run inside.” “I know,” I said “I just wanted to run against everyone else in the fitness test.” At the Hospital He had me sit on a bed in a row of beds Soon a doctor showed up She had me breathe through a tube while she examined me The tube was attached to a boxy machine that sounded as though it was breathing The Day I Couldn’t Breathe • Level N 13 “Your health is more important Besides, the only thing that matters in winning that blue ribbon is your time,” the doctor said “I’m sure your teacher will let you retake the tests.” 14 After that day, I always checked the pollen report on the news I stayed away from my other triggers I also made sure Mrs Marge had a full inhaler, just in case Oh, and I beat everyone else in running the mile that year—but I ran inside The Day I Couldn’t Breathe • Level N 15 Glossary asthma (n.) a disease that causes breathing difficulty (p 6) inhaler (n.) a device that allows a person to breathe in medicine (p 8) panicked (v.) felt sudden or uncontrollable fear or worry (p 10) paramedics people trained to provide (n.) emergency medical care to patients on their way to a hospital (p 11) After that day, I always checked the pollen report on the news I stayed away from my other triggers I also made sure Mrs Marge had a full inhaler, just in case Oh, and I beat everyone else in running the mile that year—but I ran inside The Day I Couldn’t Breathe • Level N 15 triggers (n.) things that cause something else to take place (p 14) wheeze (v.) to make a rattling or whistling sound while breathing as a result of partially blocked air passages (p 7) 16 The Day I Couldn’t Breathe A Reading A–Z Level N Leveled Book Word Count: 656 LEVELED BOOK • N The Day I Couldn’t Breathe Written by Ursula Feversham Illustrated by Rebecca Stuhff Visit www.readinga-z.com for thousands of books and materials www.readinga-z.com The Day I Couldn’t Breathe Written by Ursula Feversham Illustrated by Rebecca Stuhff The Day I Couldn’t Breathe Level N Leveled Book © Learning A–Z Written by Ursula Feversham Illustrated by Rebecca Stuhff All rights reserved www.readinga-z.com www.readinga-z.com Correlation LEVEL N Fountas & Pinnell Reading Recovery DRA M 20 28